Bark Air: New airline specializing in pet transportation launches in May

BARK, a company known for its dog products, recently announced the launch of a new travel service, BARK Air.

In partnership with a small charter airline, BARK Air aims to prioritize four-legged travelers and secondarily their owners so they can travel together in comfort and convenience.

At launch, they will initially serve the New York metropolitan area via Westchester County Airport (HPN), with flights to the Los Angeles area via Van Nuys (VNY), as well as London via Stansted Airport (STN). BARK Air's first flights will depart from New York on Thursday, May 23.

How can you currently travel by air with a pet?

The pet can be taken into the cabin of the plane, sent in a heated cargo compartment or as cargo (this transportation on a separate cargo plane is suitable for large dogs weighing more than 50 kg). Carrying an animal costs extra; the price depends on the weight of the pet and the size of the carrier.

The salon usually accepts pets weighing up to 8 kg along with a carrier. It is located under the seat in front of the chair. This means that its height should not be more than 20 cm – otherwise it will not fit. The permissible sum of three sides of the carrier is 115 cm.

Transportation rules mean that the animal will be carried during the entire flight. If you fly with a bird, it should fly in a covered cage. Some airlines have increased the permissible weight. In addition, these carriers offer to buy the adjacent chair and secure the carrier to it (it must be rigid).

What documents will be needed

1. For a flight within the country: a veterinary passport with notes on timely vaccinations (including against rabies) and on treatment against parasites.

2. For flights abroad:

Veterinary passport of international standard.
Certificate of health of the animal. It contains information about vaccinations and the age of the animal, as well as the chip number. The last rabies vaccination should be done no earlier than a year and no later than a month before travel. Your pet must be microchipped prior to rabies vaccination. If you have already vaccinated him before microchipping, the vaccination will have to be repeated. In some cases, you need a certificate confirming the lack of breeding value of your animal, as well as a certificate confirming the determination of the antibody titer to the rabies virus in the animal’s blood (for example, for entry into Europe, Israel, Japan and some Arab countries). Please note that the last certificate takes about 14 working days, sometimes longer.

How to prepare for traveling with an animal
Start preparing as early as possible – preferably several months before the flight. This will give you enough time to collect all the documents and get the necessary vaccinations.

When purchasing a ticket or immediately after, if you buy online, be sure to call the airline and coordinate the transportation of the animal. This is critically important, since different aircraft have their own restrictions on the number of animals in the cabin and in the luggage compartment, as well as on their compatibility on the same flight. It is imperative to obtain confirmation from the airline that the transportation of animals is permitted on a particular aircraft. Some carriers have special requirements for the breed of dogs – it is better to check the rules on the airline's website. After agreeing on transportation, make sure that the animal has all the necessary vaccinations and a microchip. Prepare all documents. If you have not vaccinated your pet within the last year, you need to do this no later than a month before the flight.

The next step is purchasing a carrier. It is important to accustom the animal to it in advance so that during the flight the pet feels calm and comfortable. It should be free so that your cat or dog can stand up in it to its full height and calmly turn around its axis. It is better to lay a diaper on the floor of the carrier, especially if the flight is long.

We recommend attaching a tag to the carrier with your contact information, direction and date of flight, as well as the name of the animal if you are checking the carrier into your luggage. And don’t forget about the address tag – let it always be on the animal.

Arrive at the airport at least three hours before your flight departure – you will need time to arrange the transportation of your pet. remember, that You cannot register online with an animal.. When departing on a foreign flight, you must undergo veterinary control.

It is better not to feed the animal on the day of departure. An important point: do not give your pet sedatives without first consulting a veterinarian. If there is no way without the drug, the veterinarian should help with the choice of medication and dosage.

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